FRC Submits Amicus Brief in Fourth Circuit Virginia Marriage Case

WASHINGTON, D.C. - As the debate about redefining marriage continues in the courts, Family Research Council (FRC) has submitted an amicus brief to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit in the case Bostic v. Schaefer (formerly Bostic v. Rainey).

FRC's brief was written by Paul Linton, Esq., a highly regarded constitutional appellate attorney. Linton has submitted amicus briefs on behalf of FRC in several marriage cases around the country, including in the 10th Circuit Utah marriage case being argued this week. FRC has been a long-time supporter of state laws to protect marriage as the union of one man and one woman around the country.

In his brief for FRC, Linton makes the case that the state has an interest in preserving marriage as it always has been known. He writes:

"The State has legitimate interests in encouraging responsible procreation, in furthering an environment in which the children so procreated will be raised in a family with both a mother and a father to whom they are biologically related and in preserving the traditional institution of marriage. In its equal protection analysis, the district court essentially conceded the legitimacy of these interests..."

Of the Virginia marriage case, FRC President Tony Perkins said:

"Just over the past few days the insatiable intolerance of homosexual activists has become abundantly clear. On Monday the Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of the Elane Photography decision arising out of New Mexico. Business owner and wedding photographer Elaine Huguenin followed her Christian conscience by politely declining to participate in a same-sex wedding. For that she was punished by the New Mexico Human Rights Commission - a decision upheld by the state's Supreme Court.

"We continue to see how redefining marriage is about far more than the marriage altar; it is about fundamentally altering society. Our most basic freedoms of speech and religious liberty are at stake. Mozilla forced the resignation of its CEO because of his belief in marriage as the union of a man and a woman. The backlash Mozilla received for pushing out its CEO shows that the American people are tiring of the tactics used by those seeking to redefining marriage.

"Public debate and opposition to the redefinition of natural marriage will undoubtedly intensify as Americans wake up to the consequences for all freedom in America, especially freedom of religion and freedom of speech," concluded Perkins.